Restaurant-Quality Beef: The Secret to Tender Stir-Fry

Beef and onion

Have you ever wondered why the beef at Chinese restaurants is so tender and juicy? It’s a cooking secret that chefs have used for years. With a few simple steps, you can make tasty, tender beef at home. Let’s learn how!

Choosing the Right Beef

You don’t need to buy expensive beef. Instead, pick a lean cut with less fat. These cuts are often cheaper.

When you’re ready to cut the beef, look at the grain, or the direction of the muscle fibers. Cut against the grain to make the beef more tender. Start by cutting the beef into smaller chunks, so it’s easier to handle.

Freezing the beef for about an hour before cutting helps a lot. It makes the meat firmer, so you can slice it thinly. Aim for slices that are about 2 to 3 mm thick. If they’re too thick, the beef will be tough. If they’re too thin, they might fall apart.

Marinating for Tenderness

The marinade is key to getting that perfect texture. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Ice Water: Keeps the beef cool and helps it absorb moisture.
  • Egg White: Makes the meat extra tender and silky.
  • Cornstarch: Locks in moisture.
  • Baking Soda: Softens the beef fibers.
  • Sugar, Salt, and MSG: Simple seasonings for great flavor.

Step-by-Step Marinating

  1. Mix the baking soda, sugar, salt, MSG, and ice water in a bowl until they dissolve.
  2. Add the beef and mix by hand until it feels sticky.
  3. Add the ice water in four to five parts, mixing after each addition until the beef is hydrated and shiny.
  4. Add the egg white and mix evenly.
  5. Add the cornstarch and coat the beef evenly.
  6. Cover the bowl and let it rest for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, check the beef. If there’s no extra liquid at the bottom, the marinating worked!

Preparing Your Ingredients

For a simple stir-fry, you’ll need:

  • A few slices of ginger
  • A few slices of garlic
  • The white part of green onions
  • Chopped green onion tops

Now, let’s make the sauce. In a bowl, mix:

  • Soy sauce
  • Sugar
  • White pepper
  • Dark soy sauce
  • Shaoxing wine
  • Oyster sauce
  • Water
  • Cornstarch

Mix until smooth and set aside.

Cooking the Beef

  1. Heat some oil in a pan.
  2. Add the marinated beef and sear on both sides until the surface changes color.
  3. Cook to medium-well, about 70 to 80% done.
  4. Remove the beef and set it aside to drain.

Stir-Frying

  1. In the same pan, add ginger slices and cook until fragrant.
  2. Add garlic slices and the white part of the green onions. Stir-fry until aromatic.
  3. Add the cooked beef back to the pan and pour in the sauce.
  4. Turn the heat to high and stir-fry quickly, coating the beef evenly.
  5. Sprinkle in the green onion tops and stir.

Serve and Enjoy

Your ginger and green onion beef stir-fry is ready! The beef should be tender and juicy.

Want to try another delicious beef recipe? Head over to The Woks of Life for inspiration.

Tips and Storage

Add a little cooking oil to the beef before stir-frying. This stops the pieces from sticking together.

You can store extra marinated beef in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 15 days. Use a vacuum sealer and label the bags with the date to keep track of how long they’ve been stored.

Conclusion

With these simple steps, you can make restaurant-quality beef at home. The secret is in the marinating and cooking techniques. Enjoy your tender and flavorful beef stir-fry!

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Picture of Aveline Lux

Aveline Lux

Aveline Lux is a visionary writer and digital storyteller, using her blog on CitiWell Shop as a platform to explore the intersection of creativity, commerce, and culture.

Traveling extensively across continents, Aveline draws inspiration from different cultures and global trends, infusing her articles with unique perspectives and practical insights.

Aveline enjoys photography, hiking through nature trails, and curating playlists that fuel her creative process.

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